Welcome to SEC Country’s weekly mailbag, a question-and-answer forum between readers and Tennessee team and recruiting reporter Blake Morgan. In this edition, we discuss if Tennessee can save this recruiting class, where Cade Mays stands, and commitments left.

To submit a question for Blake, send a message to @BlakeMorganSEC on Twitter or email it to blake.morgan@coxinc.com.

Do you think this recruiting class is a lost cause given everything that has unfolded at Tennessee recently? Or do you think, to some degree, that the coaching staff at Tennessee can salvage this recruiting class and end up with a decent haul? — Seth R. from Atlanta (Facebook)

I think there is absolutely a way to salvage the recruiting class. Whenever a new coach is hired it’ll be clear what he needs to do. He should already know his first two moves on the recruiting trail — call Cade Mays and Alontae Taylor.

Both were Tennessee commits for over a year and are familiar with what the program has to offer. They just want to see Tennessee make a good hire and will be trending upward while they’re on campus.

If Tennessee could get a commitment from both, then this will go back to being one of the best classes in the SEC.

The recent chaos — for lack of a better word — this week probably doesn’t help the Vols’ standing with either prospect. How could it help it?

A good hire will sweep most of it under the rug, though.

I’m really worried about the status of Cade Mays with all this nonsense. Any word on him? (Jordan Jones – Facebook)

Mays is supposedly releasing his top-3 fairly soon. I think Tennessee will be on it, even if it isn’t, it won’t be time to panic. Taylor kept Tennessee off his initial top-5 list, only to put it back on the list a week later.

These matters are fluid.

I think Mays wants to see who Tennessee will hire and go from there.

I’ve been told regardless of what is put out there or said, his final decision will come down between Tennessee and Georgia. The new coach just has to sell Mays on the vision of the Vols for the next few years.

Emerson won’t be going anywhere. He’s been solid in his commitment to Tennessee since July.

Martinez is in wait-and-see mode. I think he is still a Vol, but I do think the lingering coaching search has possibly given him some pause. Ultimately, it’ll come down if Martinez can see himself succeeding in the new coach’s system.

Dean is probably the likeliest to flip at this point. He did just finish up with an in-home visit with Tennessee, which is a good sign.